Smelly Ice

[NickRCarter]

Hi, I have an Admiral Model 23ADIW GS2326CEDW/17. This is a side by side American Fridge freezer with an ice making facility. Since February this year I have been unable to use the ice made by the unit as within 36-48hrs the ice takes on a very rancid pungent smell. I contacted Maytag and spoke to their Chief engineer who advised removing the ice making component out of the machine and soaking it in Miltons. I did this and Milton’d the whole of the inside of the freezer, but within 48hrs the ice smelt again. I tried to contact the Maytag man again but he was either out or did not return my calls.

So I envoked the extended warranty and an engineer called and agreed that the ice cubes were very very smelly and could not be used. Over the course of the next 4 months the engineer called on several occasions and replaced various parts not of which resolved the problem. They then involved Maytag in the problem who then said the mains inlet needed a water filter. I did not agree with this, neither did the engineer or Anglian Water. So to re-enforce this I asked Anglian water to carry out a full laboratory test. This resulted in the water being free from contaminates and bacteria, just those levels expected to be present.

I now recieve notification from the extended warranty company that JTM have deemed that the machine is operating to the Manufacturers specifications.

Any of you Guys out there got any ideas what’s going on in my ice making compartment.

In addition, I’m not sure whether this has any bearing but just before the smelly ice started, the same engineer was called as the lower fridge compartment kept freezing up, so the fed in from the freezer side was blocked.

Here’s hoping

Nick

[kwatt]

Re: Smelly Ice

Ineresting problem Nick. How old is the machine?

I’m not familiar with the new Admiral stuff, in truth I’ve not seen one for more than ten years and since then they’ve been bought by Maytag I believe. Of course this means that I know little about the Admiral machines, but I have dabbled in the Maytag and if this is designed along the same lines, or similar then this should apply.

The water is fed from the mains via a copper tube to an inlet valve then onto plastic tubing into the back of the unit for ice. Water is fed from plastic tube into teh bottom of the fridge to chill it in there.

It’s not exactly a huge hassle to replace the ice-maker assy and the tubing, do you know if that’s been done? The reason I ask is that the water sits in there for quite a while before entering the ice-maker.

I’m sure that I came across this on a De Dietrich (Maytag in a dress) machine some time ago and, after changing everything it was still there but then magically the fault vanished. To this day I’m still not truly convinced that the machine was at fault, I still think it was a water problem.

To be honest though, I wish I’d fitted a filter on my water as the chilled water is useless. Just doesn’t taste right so I’ve never used it and I’ve wrecked two inlet valves due to a build up of detrious in them over time despite how clean they tell me the water is.

K.

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

Hi K,

Thanks for your prompt reply. The parts changed include the pipe work( small bore), the valves and the actual ice maker with heater.

I understand from the engineer that called, the water that sits in the reservoir situated in the fridge, does not go on to the ice making facility.

I have tried everthing, including making ice in open containers in the freezer using, tap water, water having passed through the machine and filtered water. And you guessed it, all the ice made in this manner is AOK

Nick

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

Sorry forgot to say, the machine is coming up to 5 years and the warranty is about to expire. Although they have sent me an invitation to renew for a year for very little money.

Nick

[kwatt]

Re: Smelly Ice

Yeah, sounds like the Maytag.

The info is correct in that case as the water reservoir doesn’t pass into the freezer for ice at all, so that’s ruled out.

All the materials used in the construction of a fridge are inhert in regards to smell or taste, the only thing that can affect them is a bacteria build up, hence the cleaning suggestion. So that’s ruled out.

Given all the parts that have been replaced then they’re all ruled out. The chance of the same fault occurring with new spares are so remote it’s unbelievable.

So that leaves you with either the inlet pipework and the water and pretty much nothing else. Basically the supply or something in the pipework must be causing the problem I would think.

K.

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

K,

I agree, but the water been tested for a whole spectrum of things, including odour. The water company also took water that had passed through the machine, albeit not the water that finally ends up in the ice maker, but the source is the same through the single inlet pipe off the mains.

Really really frustrating. At the end of the day I will probably have to dispose of the machine and buy another, NOT Maytag!!

I have one last resort as I have spoken to trading standards today.

Nick

[BobHope]

Re: Smelly Ice

Hi Nick,

as K has just about covered all the aspects, may i ask if the water from the water dispenser also tastes and smells the same. also this appliance recirculates air into and out of the fridge so cross contamination of strong food in the fridge compartment such as garlic or onions as an example can always be tasted in the ice cubes even if a inline filter is fitted.

hope that helps and this link may help you further. http://www.dwi.gov.uk/consumer/faq/chlorine.htm

Bob.

[clivejameson]

Re: Smelly Ice

Is it the cynic in me that suggests an independant laboratory might be required to test the water, before and after freezing? 😉

[Martin]

Re: Smelly Ice

Nick,

I have exactly the same model Admiral as you and fortunately don’t have that problem. However the ice cubes (kind of boat shaped if you like) do tend to ‘taste’ a little if left in the bucket for several days. To avoid this I simply run off a bucket of ice cubes and throw them on the pot plants instead!

The white nylon water inlet hose did cause excessive smelly ice cubes in the first few weeks of use due to the newness of the hose. After a while that dissappeared I’m pleased to say. It is worth reminding you that as this appliance is a ‘frost free system’ it does circulate whatever smells are placed in the cabinet. For example, if you store strong garlic or curry flavoured products within the fridge section, that will permeate into the freezer section and likely turn your hot crossed buns store in deep freeze into smelling like poppadums???

As you have had most of the gubbins’ (technical term for bits 😉 ) replaced in the icemaking side I too am lost as to the problem here :con:

Admiral are great fridges, it would be a darn shame to throw it away just for that reason 🙁 After all most supermarkets sell icecubes by the bag these days so you can always chuck a few in the freezer once in a while if you really need ice cubes???

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

I really appreciate all your replies and it seems this is a difficult problem. The engineer on first call established that the way the food was being stored would not cause the ordour. He also, like me could not smell any ordour at all in the water.

Yes you are right about the buying of Ice cubes from the Supermarket, but that particular facility no doubt makes up a considerable percentage of the machines cost and it should work.

I am interested in the air circulation though, as I said in my initial post the transfer passage at the base from the freezer into the fridge has been blocked off.

Its just so frustrating!!!!!!!

Nick

[walmslei]

The likely suspect is the water itself and all Anglian Water are likely to be able to confirm is if the water is deemed to be safe to drink – not (necessarily) that it’s taste or odour is indeed to your pesonal taste. Your water certainly isn’t free from contaminents and is likely to contain many
different pollutants (some of which would surprise most folks!) – all Anglian will report is that these fall within ‘acceptable DWI limits’ which doesn’t necessarily mean you will not notice them!

Certain areas – such as those close to treatment plants – can occasionally be affected worse, since you get the chlorine at full dose (chlorine dissipates over time, so houses nearer treatment works can find the taste of water objectionable especially during periods of high water demand).

We supply fridge filters, but also drinking water systems, and have done for 20 odd years. It’s surprising how many people cannot tolerate the taste of chlorine (and dissolved organics etc), and some notice it more than others depending on the state of the water.

It may also be worth checkng water storage tanks (if your cold water is tank fed) as it might be a local contamination issue.

The older Admiral fridges are usually (or often anyway) with a simply taste/odour filter – identical to the Samsung EF9603/WSF100 i.e. inline ¼” OD connectors. These are cheaply available (including on the UK White Goods shop), and for the amount of time you have spent on this really could be a wortwhile investment if it solves the problem – and if it doesn’t it’s not caused massive financial loss in the process (£13).

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

Thanks for that, but I personally do not think it is a water problem. The reason I say this is because I have made ice in open containers in the freezer compartment, using tap water, filtered water and water that has passed through the machine. All these ice cubes do not have any odour at all. The odour occurs when the ice is produced in the ice making facility.

The Anglia water tests x 2 were quite extensive and included odour and taste, both scoring 1 on a scale of 1 – 5. Also I would have thought that if it was the water the the taste or smell would not be confined to the ice but would also be detected in the unfrozen water.

I believe the connection on my unit is similar size to a washing machine connector.

Many thanks,

Nick

[Martin]

Re: Smelly Ice

NickRCarter wrote:I believe the connection on my unit is similar size to a washing machine connector.

Indeed it is. 3/4″ BSP to be precise 😉

[kwatt]

Re: Smelly Ice

But there’s no way that the machine can introduce any flavour or odour and all the relevant spares have been swapped out, more for belt and braces than anythign else I expect. So you have to ask, what’s the likely cause given that?

I can’t help but think of the old Conan Doyle quote in this instance Nick…

Sherlock Holmes wrote:“When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth

If all the parts have been changed and it’s not cross-flavouring then it has to be the water, however improbable.

K.

[NickRCarter]

Re: Smelly Ice

I would totally agree, but how does the odour get introduced by going through the machine to the ice making, whereas water taken from the fountain and then frozen, has no odour.

I really wish there was a simple answer, after all its not Rocket science!!!

Nick

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